Steep price, but worth it

Like the rest of his football teammates, Ichabod Crane senior running back Shawn Gerkman has paid the price — literally and figuratively — to compete for the Riders.

Last fall, Gerkman suffered a concussion and a series of stingers. He eventually required left shoulder surgery in December and it was at that point Gerkman was informed football was no longer an option. In fact, athletics all together were gone.

After talking it over with his family, Gerkman sought a second opinion and went to see Dr. John D. MacGillivray, an associate attending orthopedic surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. MacGillivray also serves as an orthopedic consultant to the Super Bowl champion New York Giants. His diagnosis for Gerkman was that he could play football again.

"It was a roller coaster of emotions," Gerkman said. "Having my first doctor say I couldn't play sports anymore, let alone football, was really hard to take. Getting the OK from Dr. MacGillivray gave me hope."